Connector for frame-corners.



G. ALLGEIER.

CONNECTOR FOR FRAME 00m ns. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 1.

1,046,932. Patented Dec. 10, 1912 EEEEE S-BHEET 1 I g I 7 7 2 /6 a [P7 //6 3' 6+ l ]-a= I i 1 I J fl 1 eoyefllgew 254 M G. ALLGEIBR.

CONNECTOR FOR FRAME CORNERS.

APPLICATION FILED 001. 24, 1911.

1 1,046,932- Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

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-' corners of the frame.

GEORGE ALLGEIER, 0F PENDLETON, OREGON.

CONNECTOR FOR FRAME-CORNERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 24, 1911.

Patented Dec. 10, 1912. Serial No. 656,390.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE ALLGEIER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pendleton, in the county of Umatilla and State of Oregon, have invented new and useful Improvements in Connectors for Frame-Corners, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to improvements in corner connections for frames.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a connection for the corners of frames, such as picture frames or the like, wherein the employment of glue, nails, or analogous retaining devices are dispensed with.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a corner securing or connecting device which shall be ornamental in appearance, which when once arranged upon the corners or other parts of the frame cannot he accidentally removed therefrom, and which furthermore will readily and securely retain the frame against accidental movement or displacement in any direction.

lVith the above objects, and others of a similar nature in view, the invention resides in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the connecting device sustained in the corners of a picture frame. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of one of the Fig. 3 is a sectional view upon the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view upon the line 4.-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of one of the corners of the frame illustrating the position of the stiles of the frame when the last or looking key member is applied. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the keys. Fig. 7 is a similar view of one of the elongated key members. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the corners of the frame, the locking members being omitted.

The locking device has been shown as applied for connecting the corners of a picture frame, but it is to be understood that the said device is equally applicable for the connection of other frames.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates what I will term the vertical stile of the frame, and 2 the horizontal or connecting stile. The corners or ends of both of the stiles are of a similar formation, each being provided with what may be termed a body portion 3, the same having its inner face rabbeted as at 4, to provide for the reception of the picture 5. The enlarged portions 3 of each of the stiles have their upper extremities beveled as at 6 to provide a neat miter joint when the corners are connected. The stiles 1 and 2 above their enlarged portions are provided with reduced extensions 7, the same having their outer edges parallel with the outer faces or sides of the stile, and terminating a suitable distance away from the beveled edges 6 of the enlarged portion 3. These extensions 7 are substantiallv rectangular in formation, and each of the said extensions is provided with an elongated opening 8. The horizontal stile 2 has its projecting portion 7 slightly reduced upon its o posite vertical faces, so that the said extension will snugly pass through the opening 8. The opening 8 of the horizontal section in order to avoid confusion is designated by the numeral 9, and when the extensions 7 are so positioned as to bring their beveled edges 6 snugly into engagement with each other, a key 10 is passed through the lower extremity of the opening 8.

The key, as clearly illustrated in the drawings, comprises a body member 11, having its ends formed with heads 12 and 13. Each of these heads has its inner face arranged at a direct right angle to the body 10 and the said heads inclined from their right angular walls toward the ends of the keys to provide what may be termed wedge shaped ends. It is to be understood that the keys are constructed of some flexible material, and when the first key is inserted within the opening 8 adjacent the enlarged portion thereof, similar keys are passed upon the opposite edges of the extension 7 and have their body portions inserted between the vertical walls of the heads 12 and 13 of the key member 10 so that the said heads will force these keys, which may be desig nated by the numeral lat, against the sides provided by the extension. In order to facilitate the insertion of the first series of keys the section 2 has its end 7 raised within the slot 8, and when the last two keys are inserted, the extension 9 is let down to engage with the upper portion of the said keys. By this arrangement it will be noted that the heads of the keys are arranged both yond the edges of the stile 7 provided with the opening 9 a distance slightly greater than the width of the keys, and the numeral 16 designates a keywhich is adapted to engage with the heads of the keys first inserted within the opening 9 to have their opposite ends lie adjacent the vertical walls of the extension providing the said opening. By this arrangement, the keys 15 are securely locked and also securely lock the first named keys.

The numerals 17 and 18 designate key members similar to the key members 10, and these key members are adapted to engage both the upper andlower edges of the elongated key members 15 adjacent the heads thereof and transversely of the extension 7 of the member 1.

The numeral 19 designates what I term a locking key for the elongated key members .15. The keys, as previously stated, are of some flexible resilient material, and it will be noted that by first passing the body of I this key member 19 within the space provided between the key members 17 and 18 and the head of one of the key members 15, and bearing upon the opposite edge of the key member 19, the same will be forced upon the inclined or beveled head within the groove or opening provided between this elongated member 15 and the key members 17 and 18. The remainder ofthe structure is built in a precisely similar manner to that described in connection with the key members 10 and the side key members engaging with the said key members 10, except in this instance the side members are forced between the space provided between the vertical keys secured to the opposite faces of the extension 10 of the section 2 and the side members are bent and resiliently connected with the said upper member and the space between the said side members.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the method of securing the corners of frames will, it is thought, be perfectly apparent to those skilled in the art to which such inventions appertain, and a further detailed description is therefore deemed unnecessary, it being noted, however, that when the corners are secured as above described, it is practically a matter of impossibility to remove the keys without destroying the same, and that the joint provided thereby is rigid and extremely strong.

Having thus described the invention,what I claim is 1. In combination with the corners of a frame, the said corners being provided with extensions, each of said extensions having openings, one of the extensions adapted to extend through the opening of the second section, interlocking keys, and each of the said openings adapted for the reception of a plurality of interlocking keys, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A frame having its corners provided with extensions, each of the extensions be ing provided with openings, one of the extensions adapted to extend through the opening provided by the second section, a

plurality of keys adapted to be received within the openings and to project therethrough, and interlocking keys coacting with the first named keys to lock the said keys within the openings and the corners of the frame one upon the other.

8. In combination with the stiles of a pic- .ture frame, said stiles having their meeting edges beveled, and being provided with extensions adjacent their ends, each of the extensions being provided with elongated openings, one of the extensions adapted to extend through the opening of the second section, a plurality of key members comprising flexible bodies and beveled heads adapted to pass through the openings and to engage with similar key members and with the sides of the extensions, two of the said keys being elongated, the top and bottom keys engaging the top and bottom edges of the portions of the elongated members extending through the openings of one of the extensions and adjacent the sides of the second extension, and a locking key for securing the said engaging keys to the elongated keys.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE ALLGEIER. Witnesses C. H. MARSH, CELIA Gr. REUN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

